Tire structure



Aug 2, 1927- A. AM. LANE TIRE STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 1, 1925 ISO PatentedAug. 2, 1927.

, UNITED STATES ANN 1d'. LANE, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TIRE STRUCTURE.

n Application iiled November 1, 19216. Serial No. 145,523.

This invention relates to improvements in resilienttires used uponvehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide a resilient tire of novel,simple, and durable construction of adequate resiliency so as tofavorably compare with the pneumatic tire but have the advantage over apneumatic tire inthat it is not subject to punct-ures, blow-outs, leaksor the like.A l

A further object of the inventionv is to provide a resilient tire forvehicles consisting essentially of a rim channel shape in cross sectionin which a helical spring is arranged, a portion of which projects fromthe rim, a core fitting in the spring having its inside surface bearingagainst the inside of the spring` to hold it against the rim, and acasing enclosing` the spring andfportions of the rim which casing isadapted to bel mounted directly upon asupporting rim.

With the foregoing and other' objects in view which will be mademanifest in the fol` lowing detailed description and specificallypointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to theaccompanying' drawings wherein: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vehicle wheel to which the improvedresilient tire has been applied, parts of the tire beingV broken awayand shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 2 2 uponFig. 1.

3 is a vertical section taken upon the line 8-3 upon Fig 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the improved tire isshown as having been mounted upon a vehicle wheel WV. On the felly ofthe wheel there is shown a supporting' rim 10 which may be made of anyconventional or preferred construction and the rim illustrated upon thedrawing is one which transversely split so that by causing the ends ofthe rim to overlap each other the rim can be contracted for applicationand removal of the tire, The tire'consists of an annular rim 11 which ischannel shape in cross section, being' in the form of approximately onehalf of a circle as shown upon Figures 2 and 3. A helical spring 12,which is formed of sheet steel, fits within the rim 11 and has its outerside projecting out of the'rim.

This helical spring is flexed and is benty around the rim 11 so that theinner portions of its convolutions are arranged in-an Y abutting' ed geto edge relation as shown upon yFigure 1, the flexing of the springcauses kthe outer portions'of the convolutions lto be spaced from `eachother. The ends of the spring Vcan be connected together'such as bywelding or may be left unconnected as shown uponlthe drawing. `Wlienthey are unconnected these ends are preferably so arranged astobe'against the rim 11. l/V'i'thin the spring 11 there is a ringlike core13 which is circular in cross section `and j rwhich has `cross sectionaldiameter some- :so that the spring 12 can be caused to slide thereoverin assembling the tire.

Bolts 15 extend across the rim 11 and serveto connect the sides of thisrim. These bolts extend over the core 13 and also between theconvolutions of the spring 12. They serve to strengthen the rim 11 andto hold the core 18 and the spring 12 in position.

A tire casing 16 which may be of any desired or preferred constructionencloses the spring 12 and` the rim 11 and has its beads 17 fitting uponthe supporting rim 10.

The operation and advantages of the imNv proved tire are as follows:

The spring 12 is of such size as to support the weight of a vehicle forwhich the tire has been designed. However, it affords a considerabledegree ofresiliency comparing favorably with the conventional pneumatictire. As the inner portions of the convolutions are abutting eachotherand the spring is held against longitudinal movement by the bolts 15,creeping of the spring within the casing 16 is effectively prevented.The outer' portions of the convolutions of the springs being spacedover. each other are ree to giveunder compressive stresses `and also tomove slightly in a longitudinal direction. It will'be noted that asnoinner tube, or its equivalent, is used in the construction oftheimproved tire that the tireis not subject to punctures or blow-outs.Casing 16 provides the wearing surface for the improved tire and thespringV 12 absorbs the snoclrs. If, however, an obstruction should llU Ybe struclriwith a considerableforce' the outside surface of the coreserves yasa stop or limit for the collapsing movement of theconvolutions of the"` spring .soi thata the convolutions cannot be bentinwardly beyond this limit which might cause themto become permanentlysprung.V In this Way all the convolutions cannot become sprungian'd willalways return to their normal condition. It "Will be understood that theimproved tire can be mounted upon any conventionall type of supportingring Which may 0r may notbe transverselyisplit as above described.

From the above described construction it will' be appreciatedV that anovel tire is pro- .duced which is of simple and durable construction,having adequate resiliency y and which employs a spring for holding thecasi ing in inlate'dposition so that the tire cannot be punctured orcaused to blow-out.

'It Will be `understood that various changes imay4 .be madeV in thedetails of construction without departing from the spirit and scope .ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims. l

"I claim:

1. A resilient tire comprising acircular rim channel shape" in crosssection, a helical spring fitting inside the rim and projectingoutwardly therefromya core disposedrwithin the spring having suchfinsidediameter that HVit will hold the spring against the rim, the,outsiideiot' the rim'being disposed in spaced relation to the outsideof the spring, means connecting sides of the rim through the core andspring, the inner portions of the lconvolutions ofthe spring beingarranged in abutting relation, and the outerportions ot the convolutionsbeing spaced overveach other, and a casing` fitting over the spring landrim.

2. 'A resilienttirecomprising a support-ing rim, a second rim channelshapeV in cross section disposed thereabout, a: helical spring fittinginthe second rim and projecting out- Wardly'therefrom,4 a ringlike coreVdisposed Witlimthe spring havinga smaller cross seotional diameter thanthat ofthe spring, said core serving to hold4 'the insideof the spring`agz'iifnst thesecond rim, bolts connectingthe sides ofthe second rimthrough the-core arid In testimony *whereof* I'fhave Ysigned my name tothis specification.

ANNIE LANE.

